Laura Hiles is currently a 4th Kyu (Blue Belt), a Student and the President of the UNCW Aikido Club

On Fe

2nd up was Austin P. - Austin tested for his 5th Kyu after Beth. We have seen Austin's technique get stronger and more fluid since his last test. The Testing Committee ran Austin through the wringer... throwing everything at him that time would allow. He executed every technique with a calmness of spirit, and extreme focus that is usually not seen at this level. His weapons work was OUTSTANDING! His extra training efforts with weapons has really paid off and bot did it show! Austin's efforts set the example for the 5th Kyu test, and his belt was well earned.

On Saturday, Feb 28th Adam T. tested for his 4th Kyu at UNCW Aikido Club. Adam's technique was exceptionally strong. Every technique was executed darn near flawlessly, his Ki was strong and his weapons work was excellent. This test is a notoriously long one, and we put Adam through his paces... and he kept on coming back for more! Students at K.B.A. and UNCW-A continue to raise the bar with their execution of technique and weapons during testing.

A Brief History of Kure Beach Aikido
     By Richard L. Price 

     It seems only yesterday that Kure Beach Aikido started as an idea over a barbeque lunch between myself, Bill, and Christina King.  Bill and Christina had just moved to Wilmington from Charlotte NC and had been training with Dennis Main Sensei.  Since the dynamics of aikido and chief instructors change from time to time, Bill and Christina went on to train with Buddy Hege Sensei, chief instructor of Charlotte Aikido.  Bill and Christina decided to make the big move to Wilmington, NC to seek their fame and fortune.  Bill was a 1^st kyu and Christina was a second kyu at the time of the move.  Bill was getting into his career as a “Graphics Guru,” and Christina was working at a financial lending institution before later becoming a full time stay at home Mom. 

     Since aikidoka tend to seek each other out,  I received a call from Bill and Christina, who heard I had bought a second home at Kure Beach, just nineteen miles from Wilmington.   Being a dual resident, I was training with and teaching periodically for Bill Bunn Sensei at Joshinkan Dojo, in Raleigh, NC.  Around this time frame, I was also doing an open, informal workout with some of the local Kure Beach police officers, lifeguards and local residents who had an interest in aikido at that time.  We worked out at the town hall originally until quickly outgrowing the small, yet, rent free space. There were NO FEEs, NO GI’S, ONLY SKINNED KNEES at that time since we did not have mats.  The employees at the Kure Beach Town Hall were ready for us to find other suitable digs since we were pulling the carpet off of the floor from the wear and tear of rolling around on the carpet.

       Bill, Christina and I decided to further discuss the possibility of opening a dojo if the chemistry between us was right.  Bill was getting his career off the ground in feature film and TV. I was running an insurance agency and had finished going through  B.L.E.T. (basic law enforcement training) to get my police officers certification.  You see, no good deed goes unpunished.  The invitation and workouts with the police department led into me being sworn in as a police officer to help during terrorist, I mean, tourist season.  I accepted since I enjoy  a challenge and was getting a bit bored with insurance work.  I might add that  I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.  So, with eight worn out, rented mats from Bill Bunn Sensei until we could afford mats and a $1,000.00 loan from me, Kure Beach Aikido, Inc. was launched.

      This leads me back to why we made Kure Beach Aikido a non profit club.  First, we decided we both had businesses to run and did not want to go through the pressure of renting expensive store front space in a shopping center.  Second, we liked the shared responsibility in a club atmosphere.  Third, we could keep the dues down if there were no salaries to pay.  Fourth, we could scholarship some kids who have hardship cases to do some good within the community.  Fifth, the new black belts could get some teaching time to grow within the art.  Sixth,  our feelings were that the martial arts loose something when the focus is on money and contracts.

The K.B.A. Website Home Page Header... many incarnations ago! (Nov 1998)

       We agreed to continue the efforts to get Kure Beach Aikido going and set out to find a space.  I decided to try and make a proposal to the Kure Beach town council to see if we could obtain the use of the Kure Beach Community Center.  Since we offered to scholarship and put the money from the club back in the town, the council let us use the space twice per week on Thursday night and Saturday mornings.  We continued with the class schedule and the free space until Saturday training became a problem for folks wanting to rent the community room.  This would mean our class would get bumped periodically and we would find another place to train, usually weapons work on the beach.  After further negotiations, we ended up changing our class schedule to Tuesday and Thursday evenings and signed a contract to pay rent so we would not have classes canceled.  This seems to have worked quite well.

K.B.A. - Back in the day.... note all the posts in the middle of the room.


(Feb 1997) Rolling and Ukemi was fun, we had to post "Safety People" to kick Aikidoka back into play.
Christina King (3rd Kyu) throws Bill King (2nd Kyu)


(March 1999) Matt Cheely and the class go over Bokken Strikes.... Note the Funky Mat Configuration....

     We have experienced some great joys and sadness during the last twelve years.  We have enjoyed the friendships we have made with the Marines who have visited after being called to active duty.  We have kept our doors open to the men and women in uniform during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have enjoyed the friendship seminars with Camp Lejeune Aikido – Tombo Dojo.  We have made some close friendships with Major Roger Meade and his students.  We have got to know these brave men and women up close and personally and have made an effort to support them and their mission.  We have had our own go off to war including Danny Martin, Anthony White, and Kurt Weiller.  This leads me to the saddest time in the dojo. We had one of ours that did not return from the war, Elia Fontecchio.  I can’t say enough about Elia.  He was a student who loved and absorbed aikido like a sponge.  I like to think he has not departed but opened a satellite dojo in heaven. We had a memorial workout in his honor and collected money for his son’s college fund. I personally visited his family in Florida to award his honorary black belt and certificate.  Elia was a true warrior and a hero.   His spirit will always be a part of our club.

     It has been exciting to see the students go through the ranks toward black belt.  We have watched Bill King get his Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan.  We have seen Danny Martin, David Heglar, Powell Phillips, Chad Lanier, Clint Hamilton and Tony Rivera get their Shodan certificates. 

     We have had some funny times in the dojo.  Remember the night Kurt Weiller knocked out Tony Rivera’s glass eye.  Now, most of you probably didn’t know Tony had a glass eye.  Sorry Tony,  I wasn’t the only one who saw it.  Kurt nearly had a hard attack and some of the new students thought this place was much too hard core and thought this might be the proper time to leave.  Another funny episode dealt with Christina King.  How do you get a person to take a 1^st kyu test who doesn’t like to test.  The answer is; you don’t tell them they are testing. Right Christina???